The document summarizes an article from the New York Times about low college graduation rates in the US. It notes that only 50% of US students complete a bachelor's degree, and cites potential causes like inadequate pre-college education, colleges prioritizing enrollment over completion, and lower-income students attending lower-quality schools. It also provides suggestions to address the problem, such as making education more affordable and changing cultural perceptions about the acceptability of dropping out.

1. Why are U.S.
Colleges
Failing in
Graduating
Students?
Editorial by
Kevin Zielinski
Copyright © 2009,
Red Cedar Media LLC
Excerpt of David Leonhardt article posted
September 8, 2009, NYTIMES.COM

2. Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students?
New York Times Article: Sept. 8, 2009
David Leonhardt’s article posted on NYTIMES.COM cites the following data
on U.S. college graduation rates:
• Only 50% of U.S. students that enroll in U.S. colleges and universities end
up with a Bachelor’s degree.
• Among richer nations, only Italy has a worse record for graduating its
students.
• The new book “Crossing the Finish Line” identifies potential causes of this
poor record, based on a study of 200,000 students at 68 U.S. colleges
o Inadequate pre-college education
o Colleges’ focus on enrollment (with funding tied to enrollment) rather than
completion
o Well-off students vs. lower-income students
 Well-off students attend schools that graduate students as their norm
 Lower-income students “under-match” (select schools with lesser
quality/reputation than the students are eligible for)
 Lower-income students gravitate toward colleges with higher dropout
rates

3. Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students?
Potential Remedies?
David Leonhardt’s article cites several possible solutions to the problem of
declining graduation rates:
• Money is part of the answer – make higher education and better schools
more affordable to lower-income students, so economics is not a reason
for “under-matching” or for dropping out.
• Reverse the cultural perception about failure –
dropping out is not acceptable
• Reverse the belief that graduation can take
more than four years – graduation deferred
is often graduation unrealized
• Maintain incentives for keeping underclass
students enrolled, even though they are ,
in mass, cheaper to educate.

4. Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students?
…And What About the Educators?
While the Leonhardt article offers a very plausible argument about the
graduation problem and potential solutions, consider this:
• The “primary objective” of some (many?) institutions is not
educating/graduating students – it is “RESEARCH”.
o Rewards and accolades come to faculty members that bring in major
research grants, NOT those who teach well and pass the most students.
o To some faculty members, teaching is not something to be perfected or
optimized
• A common assumption made by college departments is “because a
faculty member has a Ph.D., they must be able to teach”!
o Rarely do college faculty (tenured, associate or adjunct) get trained in
how to teach effectively, including the creation of challenging-yet-fair
exams, lesson planning, use of effective media, etc.
o Rarely do college faculty get audited, evaluated or reprimanded for lack
of teaching ability
o Certification to teach college is not required (as it is for elementary and
secondary educators) – only a post-graduate degree or doctorate.

5. Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students?
Additional Recommendations to Improve College
Graduation Rates
• Require all faculty, except for the school of Education, to be given
training in how to teach a college course
o College faculty will learn to make courses interesting for their
students, challenging-yet-fair, and show concern for their learning –
thus helping reduce dropout rates.
• Evaluate all faculty for their ability to convey course information, create
exams, manage their class, etc., periodically over time
o Keep the focus and rewards on high quality instruction and education
rather than research.
• Ensure there is adequate monitoring of student performance throughout
each semester/quarter (esp. at the early stages of any course)
o Identify “stragglers” early, identify appropriate remedial action(s), and
motivate each student to perform as expected.

6. Why are Colleges Failing in Graduating Students?
Your Thoughts?
Red Cedar Media LLC offers consultation and courseware for college faculty
that will give them the tools to truly educate effectively.
For more information or to express your own opinions, please contact:
www.redcedarmedia.com (web site)
kevin@redcedarmedia.com (e-mail)